Southern Africa 360 Luxury Holidays appoints Nikki Thaver as CEO and puts empathy-driven ‘affordable luxury’ and women-led guest experiences at the centre of its next chapter.
Cape Town, 19 August 2025 – Southern Africa 360 Luxury Holidays has turned a new page, one written in warmth and authenticity. The boutique destination management company has appointed Nikki Thaver as Chief Executive Officer, marking both a milestone Women’s Month leadership transition and the start of a fresh approach to luxury travel across the region.
Under Nikki’s leadership, Southern Africa 360 is spotlighting the growing trend of “affordable luxury”, experiences that move the heart without breaking the bank. Think welcoming greetings from female-owned transfer companies, immersive journeys into off-the-beaten-path gems like the Northern Cape, and itineraries that prioritise soul stirring moments over opulent rooms.
“When people come to Southern Africa, they’re here for the experience,” says Nikki. “Yes, five-star rooms have their place, but luxury is also about connection, comfort, and knowing everything is taken care of. People don’t come to South Africa for private plunge pools. They come for life-changing experiences.”
The female touch that makes a difference
What sets Southern Africa 360 apart is its commitment to female-led service at every touchpoint. The company exclusively works with women-owned transport companies for meet-and-greet services, creating a warmer, more empathetic first impression for international visitors.
“When clients land after a 14-hour flight with missing baggage, our female meet-and-greet representatives don’t just arrange airline communication; they ask about urgent needs, offer shopping stops, and provide the empathy that transforms a stressful moment into reassurance,” Nikki explained.
This attention to detail resonates particularly with the growing demographic of female travellers, grandmother-granddaughter trips, and solo women visitors, a trend that has helped drive the company’s recent success in challenging markets like Australia, where Southern Africa 360 transformed from minimal presence to over 3,000 travellers, reaching #2 on their partner’s global leaderboard ahead of traditional favourites like Thailand and Southeast Asia.
Nikki’s appointment comes as the company celebrates its 10th anniversary and positions itself as a female centred operation, with 90% of its 20 person team being women and an expanding network of female-owned supplier partnerships across Southern Africa.
“Empowering women is about building opportunities throughout our industry,” said Nikki. “We’re proud that 90% of our core team are women and we actively seek out partnerships with female-owned businesses across Southern Africa, from transport to guiding to hospitality. My vision is to create an intentional pipeline where young women not only enter travel but thrive all the way up.”
The company actively partners with small, independently owned businesses across Southern Africa, with a particular focus on women-owned enterprises and businesses run by previously disadvantaged entrepreneurs.
“We’re committed to three core values: supporting women in tourism, growing youth in the industry, and partnering with small businesses, particularly those owned by black entrepreneurs and previously disadvantaged individuals. When we grow, we want our partners to grow alongside us,” said Nikki.
Academic roots drive real-world solutions
With 14 years as a tourism lecturer at Cape Peninsula University of Technology behind her, Nikki is passionate about bridging the gap between tourism education and the realities of the industry. Under her leadership, Southern Africa 360 has pioneered 18-month internship programmes, triple the industry standard.
“I saw the gap between what universities produce and what the industry needs,” said Nikki. “Our extended internships allow students to truly understand the business, not just get a taste before moving on.”
The programme has yielded concrete results: one intern recently celebrated her second anniversary as a permanent employee after progressing from 18-month intern to junior consultant to full-time team member.
Nikki steps into the role with an impressive track record of strategic market development and relationship building. As Product and Marketing Director, she spearheaded the company’s growth trajectory, doubling revenues over 18 months through strategic market expansion and innovative product development.
Her breakthrough success in the Australian market exemplifies Southern Africa 360’s approach of identifying underserved market segments rather than competing for established accounts. By understanding client needs before they even arrive and tailoring packages to unique market requirements, she ensured every stage of the journey feels personal, a strategy that has defined the company’s growth trajectory.
This philosophy has enabled Southern Africa 360 to serve clients across broader budget ranges while maintaining exceptional satisfaction rates and strong repeat business, evidenced by senior staff retention averaging 8.5 years in an industry notorious for turnover.
Founder Collin Thaver will transition to Business Development Director, supporting the new CEO while focusing on expanding the holding company’s other verticals including Southern Africa 360 Exclusive Tours and the soon-to-launch Mice 360 events division.
“I want to be known as the husband of the CEO,” said Collin. “This represents a paradigm shift that more males in our industry need to consciously make. Nikki’s leadership, combined with our female-first approach, positions us to set new standards for both luxury travel and women’s advancement in tourism.”
What to look out for
Rather than rushing into new markets, Nikki’s first 100 days will focus on deepening relationships with Southern Africa 360’s loyal clients across their key markets of India, the UK, US, and Australia, while building on the company’s reputation for personal, attentive service.
The company plans to leverage its established expertise in off-the-beaten-path destinations like Northern Cape and Limpopo provinces to serve repeat visitors seeking deeper Southern Africa experiences.
Guests can look forward to expanded itineraries into lesser-known regions, a stronger focus on year-round travel, and more partnerships that align with Southern Africa 360’s values of authentic, transformative experiences.
“Our commitment to delivering world-class experiences remains unwavering,” said Nikki. “But now we’re consciously ensuring that more women shape, guide, and benefit from the luxury travel economy, from our team to our suppliers to the guides and operators who create these transformative journeys.”
As Southern Africa 360 Luxury Holidays steps into this new chapter, Nikki’s vision promises more than just breathtaking itineraries. It’s a commitment to travel that’s deeply personal, authentically Southern African, and built to uplift the communities it touches. For travellers, it means journeys that are as memorable for the people you meet as for the places you see.
Southern Africa 360 by the numbers
- 90% female workforce
- 8.5 years average senior staff tenure
- 18 months internship duration vs industry standard 6 months
- 10 years company milestone in 2025
- Doubled revenues over 18 months through strategic growth
- Key markets: India, UK, US, Australia
